Comments on: More than just money needed to help poor

By: Self-Helper

Self-Helper — Sat, 31 May 2008 12:34:06 +0000

About 9 months have passed since the above TOC posting, and thanks to lizard, I feel that it is timely to re-visit.

The policies have been made clearer recently, and expectations are played down.

Perhaps Robert Teh and SgForums can lead the starting up of the “Self-Help Fund” – the present timing seems to be quite perfect.

I am heartened by the generous contributions by Singaporeans to the recent disasters of cyclone hit Myanmar and earthquakes in China.

The people behind this “Self-Help Fund” may even win a Nobel Prize, as the Bangadesh gentlemen did with his unprecedented help of very soft loans to the poor.

By: lizard

lizard — Sat, 31 May 2008 12:11:03 +0000

yes i agree. we should help the poor more in other ways. the government shd subsidies more. cheers:)

By: Robert Teh Kok Hua

Robert Teh Kok Hua — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:45:50 +0000

Let's start a People's Self-Help Fund as posted at SgForums

By: mrbiao

mrbiao — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:48:37 +0000

I think GST should be only imposed on non-necessities. The 7% savings will amount to a lot for a family that doesn’t earn much.

This is what is being done in some developing countries. Think of it this way: Taxing 9% on a luxurious item (i.e. LV handbag) will net more tax revenue than taxing 7% on 3000 cans of baked beans. And the well-to-do would not mind paying a little more for their branded goods, I’m sure.

This is a good way to redistribute income (actually no distribution is made, but it appears to have that effect) without spoon feeding. IMHO I feel that this is better than handing out ERS or NSS.

But our government seems to love the idea of taking money from the people upfront and then giving back in the form of ‘rebates’. Reminds me of those controversial ‘opt-out’ policies.

By: Kew Kah Fatt

Kew Kah Fatt — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:55:19 +0000

To help the poor is not to force them to buy house. Government should have ample 1 room, 2 rooms and 3 rooms flats to let out to the down trodden and low income family to rent.

PAP’s policy to have citizen owning their own home is not workable for the poorest 5% population.

The proper solution is to inculcate family responsibility to the young male citizens. Shame those young men who make the girls pregnant and running away from their responsibility. In a way also hold the parent of the young male responsible for the new born baby.

Our policy tends to follow the West. We should adopt Eastern policy of having the male taking responsibility. This is Confucianism. Western liberal policy will only degrade our society.

By including Confucianism in school ethic study, we are making the boys to be future good citizens.

As for destitutes, the allowance for them should be sufficient to cover their food, lodging and clothing. I have not study the cases of poor so I don’t know the right amount to be given to them. But what I see from reports in newspapers is that other volenteers are giving extra help to them. If this is so that means, the allowance is not sufficient.